The Undergraduate Assembly met in a
special called session on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at 2:15 p.m. in 101
College Hall.Interim President Charles
A. Sorber presided.

Attendance.

Member

Present

Excused

Absent

Alternate

Charles A. Sober

√

Dana Dunn

√

Pam Haws

√

Michael Moore

√

Evan Anders

√

Susan Beckham

√

Karen Bullis

√

Bill Carroll

√

Jinny Choi

√

Theresa Daniels

√

William Dillon

√

Richard Dodge

√

James Epperson

√

Victoria
Farrar-Myers

√

Perry Fuchs

√

Jeanne Gerlach

√

Susan Grove

√

Andy Hansz

√

D.L. Hawkins

√

Jay Henry

√

Santos Hernandez

√

Melinda Hiemenz

√

Dan Himarios

√

Jeannine Hirtle

√

Richard Jimmerson

√

Karen Johannesson

√

Lon Johnston

√

Peter Lehmann

√

Dennis Marynick

√

Fred McDonald

Don McConnell

√

Robert McMahon

√

Karl Petruso

Jim Munch

√

Tabitha Padilla

√

Lynn Peterson

√

Jo Pinkerton

√

Elizabeth Poster

√

Syed R. Qasim

√

Steve Quevedo

√

Peggy Quinn

√

Dennis Reinhartz

√

K. Jamie Rogers

√

Craig Slinkman

√

Neal Smatresk

√

Gina Thames

√

Patricia Turpin

√

Kimberly van Noort

√

Josh Warren

√

Tom Watts

√

Alisa White

√

Tom Wilding

√

Paul Witt

√

Beth Wright

√

Kai Yeung

√

Abu Yilla

√

Report
of the Academic Standards Committee. Committee Chair David Gray presented a
proposal to increase admission standards for incoming freshmen.The proposal was presented in two
parts.

1.Proposal to Increase Admission Standards for Entering Freshman.This proposal states that UTA freshman
admission requirements are currently lower than those at many state
institutions including UNT, UTD, UT and UH. Our current admission standards undermine efforts to improve UTA’s
reputation in the community, and
discourages top caliber students from giving UTA serious consideration as their
college choice.Approval of this
proposal to raise admission standards for first time freshmen and freshman
transfer students does not mean that UTA is abandoning its commitment to
affordable education, public access, or to closing the gaps in higher
education.The following standards,
which are comparable with UNT’s standards, were presented:

Proposed Automatic Admission Standards for
First Time Freshmen and Freshman Transfers

Start Date:Fall 2004

Current Standards

Proposed Standards

Impact of Proposed Standards

Class Rank

Minimum
Acceptable SATScore

Minimum
Acceptable ACTScore

Minimum
Acceptable SATScore

Minimum
Acceptable ACTScore

# of Fall
2002 FTF Cohort Affected by Proposed Standard

% of Fall
2002 FTF Cohort Affected by Proposed Standard

% of Fall
2002 UTA Students Affected

Top 10%

No minimum score, but students must
submit scores

No minimum score, but students must
submit scores

No minimum score, but students must
submit scores

No minimum score, but students must
submit scores

Next 15% of the top
quarter

900

19

No minimum score, but students must
submit scores

No minimum score, but students must
submit scores

N/A

N/A

N/A

2nd
quarter

950

20

1050

22

223

12.3

0.9

3nd
quarter

1000

21

1150

25

319

17.5

1.3

4rd
quarter

1150

25

Individual review

Individual review

215

11.8

0.9

Class rank
unavailable

Individual review

Individual review

Individual review

Individual review

123

Professor Evan Anders expressed
concern about the timing of raising admission standards now when the sluggish
economy could possibly create a declining enrollment crisis.Interim Provost Dana Dunn stated that we are
at a point where our focus on growth may need to be moderated due to space and capacity
issues.Professor Jay Henry felt that
minimum SAT and ACT scores should be required for the next 15% of the top
quarter of high school students.Student Congress President Josh Warren voiced unease about implementing
admission standards changes to become effective just when a new central administration
might have to deal with the aftermath of this decision. President Sorber explained that this would
have no impact on a new president, and if it would benefit the University, it
should be done without any bearing on the presidential search.Provost Dunn suggested that the modest
increase should make the campus more attractive to the caliber of president we
seek.Also, if this proposal is not
approved in time to get on the docket for the next Board of Regents’ meeting,
new standards could not go into effect until Fall 2005.A motion to amend the proposed standards to
include a minimum SAT score of 1000 and the appropriate minimum score for the
ACT for the next 15% of the top quarter was made by Professor Henry.Impact data were not available at the meeting
to determine if this amendment should be made, and the motion died for lack of
a second.

The Assembly approved the proposal
for increased admission standards as presented without objections.

2.Future Changes in the SAT and ACT Test.This proposal involves adding a writing section to the SAT and
ACT tests to be scored on the same metric as the current math and verbal
sections.Fall 2006 incoming freshmen
will be taking the revised tests. Universities
across the country are currently deciding whether to require scores from the
writing test.The Committee recommends
that UTA require the writing test for at least three reasons:(1) we want to be perceived as having the
same high standards as other ‘best’ universities in the nation that will
require the test; (2) this requirement will send an important signal to area
high schools that writing is important and it should be emphasized in high
school curriculum; and (3) the writing test scores have the potential to be
used for placement and diagnostic purposes.

Remarks
by the President.President Sorber
stated that he is happy to be at UTA.He feels UTA is a great place and we ought to be proud of it.He also feels that today’s actions of the
Assembly have enhanced the institution.